Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;Zanmusunset&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Zanmusunset’ characterized by its medium sized blooms with orange ray florets and prolific branching; natural season flower date September 14; blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Chrysanthemum×morifolium Ramat.

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘Zanmusunset’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium Ramat., commercially known as a garden mum, and herein after referred to by the cultivar denomination ‘Zanmusunset. ‘Zanmusunset’ is a product of a breeding and selection program for outdoor pot mums (garden mums) which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with a double type flower, a natural season flower date around September 14 (week 37); blooming for a period of 5 weeks. ‘Zanmusunset’ is a seedling resulting from a crossing of the seed parent id 996 and pollen parent id 4422. Plants of the new cultivar ‘Zanmusunset’ differ from its parent plants in (1) flower type and (2) plant vigor. (1) The flower type of the seed parent and of ‘Zanmusunset’ is double, while that of the male parent is semi-double. (2) The plants of the male parent are more strongly vigorous than those of ‘Zanmusunset’ and of its seed parent. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant by Wilhelmus Bernardus Blom on a cultivated field in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in 2005. The first act of asexual production of ‘Zanmusunset’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings from the initial selection in 2005 were propagated further in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The new cultivar has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the various stages of foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown out door in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands under natural day length and temperature and planted in week 25 in 2007. The natural blooming date of this crop was September 14 (week 37). The average height of the plants was 40-45 cm. No growth retardants were used. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with orange ray florets blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Zanmusunset’ is ‘Thor’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,597). When ‘Thor’ and ‘Zanmusunset’ are being compared the following differences are noticed: The differences of ‘Thor’ and ‘Zanmusunset’ are (1) Flower size and (2) Plant size. (1) The flowers of ‘Zanmusunset’ are smaller in size than those of ‘Thor’. (2) The plants of ‘Zanmusunset’ are larger than those of ‘Thor’.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Zanmusunset’ as a new and distinct variety.

The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 2001.

TABLE 1 Botanical description of chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zanmusunset’ Bud Size Small; cross-section 1 cm, height 0.8 cm Outside Color Greyed-orange 168D Phyllaries 2 rows Phyllaries among disc-florets Not present Bloom Type Double Height   1 cm Size 4.5 cm Phyllary number 25-28 Phyllary color (upper surface) Green 138A Phyllary length and width 7 mm and 3 mm Peduncle length 12-14 cm Peduncle color Green 139C Number of blooms per branch Approx. 6 blooms per branch Duration of flowering 5 weeks Seeds Produced in small quantities, ovate grey- brown 199A, 1 ½ mm in length. Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum, slightly Color Center of the flower Immature stage: Greyed-red 181A Mature stage: Greyed-orange 168C Color of upper surface of the Greyed-orange 168 B-C ray-florets Color of the lower surface of Greyed-orange 173C the ray-florets Tonality from Distance A garden mum with orange flowers Color of the ray-florets after Greyed-orange 167D aging of the plant Ray florets Texture Upper and under surface smooth Number 220-230 Cross-section Flat Longitudinal axis of majority Straight Length of corolla tube 0.5 cm Ray-floret margin Entire Ray-floret length 1.8-2.5 cm Ray-floret width 0.3-0.5 cm Ratio length/width High Shape of tip Dentate Disc florets Absent Receptacle shape Conical raised Reproductive Organs Stamen Absent Pistil Present in ray-florets (one per ray-floret) Style color Yellow 13A Style Length 3 mm Stigma color Yellow-green 144A Stigma Width 1 mm Ovaries Enclosed in calyx Plant Form Grown as a spray type potmum, outdoor mounded and round Growth habit Spherical shape Growth rate Vigorous Height 40-45 cm Width 55 cm Stem Color Greyed-brown 199C Stem Strength Strong Stem Brittleness Not brittle Stem Anthocyanin Coloration Absent Internode length 1-1.5 cm Length of lateral branch From top to bottom 20-22 cm Lateral branch color Yellow-green 146D Lateral branch, attachment Medium strength Branching (average number of Prolific with 8 breaks after pinching lateral branches) Natural season blooming date September 14 (week 37) Foliage Leaf color Upper side: Green 139 A-B Lower side: Green 138A Color midvein Upper side: Yellow-green 147D Lower side: Yellow-green 148D Size Small.; length 4.5-7 cm, width 3-5 cm Quantity (number per lateral 23-25 branch) Shape Ovate Texture upper side Glabrous Texture under side Pubescent Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Serrated Shape of Base of Sinus Be- Rounded tween Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Converging Lateral Lobes Shape of Base Truncate Apex Mucronulate Petiole length 1-1.5 cm Petiole color Yellow-green 147D

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison variety ‘Zanmusunset’ ‘Thor’ Flower size 4.5 cm 6.57 cm Plant height 40-45 cm 30-35 cm 

1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 